山地森林表层土壤酶活性对短期增温及凋落物分解的响应

为了探究贡嘎山地区暗针叶林表层土壤酶活性对增温及凋落物分解的响应,采用开顶式生长箱(open top chamber)和加热电缆(OTC-cable)联合增温的方式模拟增温,同时定位监测实验小区地表空气、表层土壤温湿度的变化;不同类型(A:75%峨眉冷杉针叶+25%杜鹃荚蒾灌木叶凋落物,B:55%峨眉冷杉针叶+45%杜鹃荚蒾灌木叶凋落物)凋落物在模拟增温和自然对照条件下分解4年,研究土壤过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶和脲酶活性的变化。结果表明:增温使得地表空气和表层土壤温度分别增加了2.84℃和1.83℃;使得空气相对湿度和土壤含水量分别降低了5.27%和1.55%。针叶比例高会抑制凋落物分解,约13%;增温促进凋落物分解且对针叶比例高的促进作用更加明显,增幅均超过10%。增温总体上降低了土壤过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性,而对多酚氧化酶活性的影响表现为增大。针叶比例降低的凋落物分解对3种土壤酶活性的影响大致趋势是增大,幅度在15%以上。增温和凋落物类型之间的交互作用显著。随着土壤深度增加,土壤过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性增大,而脲酶活性降低。增温和不同类型凋落物分解对表层土壤酸碱性无显著作用。在土壤含水量较低的情况下,土壤水分对酶活性影响较大。贡嘎山峨眉冷杉林表层土壤酶对温度的敏感性不仅因酶类型、土壤深度而存在差异,也随增温时间、土壤水分条件而有所不同。     

干旱胁迫下华北落叶松幼苗接种木霉的生理变化

水分匮缺显著影响林木更新,根际接种木霉可减缓林木所受干旱胁迫的影响。本研究通过人工控水试验,分析了根际接种木霉对干旱条件下(轻度、中度和重度干旱,培养基质相对含水量分别为50%～60%、35%～50%、20%～35%)华北落叶松幼苗针叶抗氧化系统和渗透物质的生理影响。结果表明: 随着干旱胁迫加剧,幼苗针叶的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著增强,丙二醛和脯氨酸含量持续上升,可溶性蛋白质和淀粉含量呈现下降的趋势。接种木霉后,干旱胁迫下幼苗针叶的SOD和POD活性增幅更大,丙二醛含量上升幅度减小。中度干旱条件下,接菌苗的POD活性是未接菌苗的1.8倍,丙二醛含量是未接菌苗的62.9%。接菌后,干旱胁迫下幼苗针叶的脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖和淀粉含量均高于未接菌幼苗。根际接种木霉后,受干旱胁迫的华北落叶松幼苗的抗氧化系统和渗透物质调节能力增强,幼苗对干旱胁迫的耐受性增强。在华北地区气候日趋暖干化的趋势下,可将根际接种木霉技术推广用于华北落叶松人工造林或林下抚育。     

季节性雪被对高山森林凋落物分解的影响

季节性雪被可能对高山森林凋落物分解产生重要影响, 但一直没有深入的研究。该文采用凋落物分解袋法, 于2010-2012年雪被覆盖下几个关键时期(冻结初期、深冻期和融化期)以及生长季节, 研究了川西高山森林代表性树种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)、红桦(Betula albosinensis)、四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)和方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)凋落叶在不同厚度冬季雪被下的分解动态。经过两年的分解, 不同雪被覆盖下岷江冷杉凋落物分解率为33.98%-39.55%, 红桦为46.49%-48.22%, 四川红杉为42.30%-44.93%, 方枝柏为40.34%-43.84%。相对于无雪被覆盖环境, 厚型雪被覆盖均小幅提高了4种凋落物两年的失重率(1.57%-5.57%)。3个针叶树种(岷江冷杉、四川红杉和方枝柏) Olson凋落物分解系数k均以厚型雪被覆盖最大, 薄型雪被覆盖最小, 而阔叶树种红桦分解系数k则表现为无雪被>薄型雪被>较厚型雪被>厚型雪被>中型雪被。尽管在第二年生长季中雪被对红桦凋落物分解的促进作用不明显, 但雪被覆盖明显促进了两年各个关键时期岷江冷杉、四川红杉和方枝柏凋落物的分解。第一年雪被期凋落物分解对当年分解总量的贡献达42.5%-65.5%, 季节性雪被变化明显改变了凋落物冬季分解格局, 对深冻期凋落物分解过程影响尤为显著。综上所述, 当前气候变化情景下冬季雪被的减少可能减缓该区森林凋落物分解过程, 但相对于易分解的阔叶凋落物, 针叶凋落物的响应特征可能更为强烈。     

格氏栲幼苗叶绿素荧光和非结构性碳水化合物积累对种子散布位置的响应

植物种子从母树掉落形成土壤种子库时,凋落物或土壤是其最初接触的物理环境,种子所处位置(种子在凋落物上层、土壤表层或凋落物下层)影响了幼苗天然更新进程。模拟格氏栲种子在凋落物上层(种子下层铺垫2和4 cm凋落物)、土壤表层(无凋落物)及凋落物下层(种子上层覆盖2、4、6和8 cm凋落物)等3种不同散布位置,探讨种子散布位置对幼苗叶绿素荧光特性、非结构性碳水化合物、比叶面积、叶干物质含量和养分含量的影响。结果表明:不同散布位置的幼苗单位面积的叶氮含量与可溶性糖、非结构性碳水化合物含量呈显著正相关,与比叶面积呈显著负相关。适宜凋落物覆盖(2和4 cm)的幼苗通过提高叶绿素相对含量、可溶性糖含量、非结构性碳水化合物含量、叶干物质含量和单位面积的叶氮含量和叶磷含量,降低比叶面积等的资源获取策略来实现自身快速生长需求。无凋落物和深层凋落物覆盖(6和8 cm)的幼苗采取高单位重量的叶氮含量和比叶面积,低叶干物质含量和非结构性碳水化合物含量的资源保守型策略以截获更多有效光资源,进而弥补深层凋落物带来的郁闭环境,降低幼苗因“碳饥饿”而死亡的几率。下层铺垫凋落物的幼苗通过在叶片储藏淀粉,降低叶片光合组织消耗能量(低PSⅡ最大光化学效率)等维持幼苗生长。熵值法综合分析表明,浅层凋落物覆盖(2 cm)对格氏栲幼苗生长的促进作用最为显著,未来可通过调节天然林凋落物层厚度以促进格氏栲幼苗生长与更新。     

不同厚度雪被对高山森林6种凋落物分解过程中酸溶性和酸不溶性组分的影响

高山森林冬季不同厚度雪被格局可能通过影响凋落物的分解过程中酸溶性和酸不溶性组分特征,改变凋落物分解过程,但缺乏必要关注。采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了高山森林林窗中央至林下形成的天然雪被厚度梯度(厚型雪被、中型雪被、薄型雪被和无雪被)覆盖下,6种典型物种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)、红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)、四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、康定柳(Salix paraplesia)和高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落物在不同关键时期(雪被形成期、雪被覆盖期和雪被融化期)的酸溶性组分和酸不溶性组分变化特征。经历一个冬季的分解后,6种凋落物酸溶性组分绝对含量呈降低趋势,除红桦外5种凋落物酸不溶性组分绝对含量呈增加趋势。不同厚度雪被显著影响雪被覆盖期和融化期凋落物酸不溶性和酸溶性组分绝对变化量;其中方枝柏、红桦和康定柳凋落物酸不溶性组分增加量在厚型雪被下显著高于其它雪被覆盖;而相对于阔叶凋落物酸溶性组分变化量在薄型雪被和无雪被梯度达到最大值,针叶凋落物酸溶性组分在厚型雪被下具有最大的变化量。一个冬季分解结束后,表征6种凋落物酸溶性和酸不溶性组分含量相对比例的LCI指数(Lignocellulose index)总体升高,雪被对LCI指数的影响主要表现在雪被覆盖期和融化期,且方枝柏、岷江冷杉和康定柳凋落物LCI在冬季分解后均在厚型雪被达到最高值。同时统计分析结果表明,物种极显著影响冬季不同阶段凋落物酸溶性和酸不溶性组分的变化。这些结果意味着气候变暖情景下,高山森林冬季雪被和冻融格局的改变将显著影响凋落物分解过程中酸溶性、酸不溶性组分以及LCI指数代表的抵抗性组分结构的变化,且影响趋势受到凋落物质量的调控。     

广西大青山杉木人工林碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

为研究杉木人工林生态系统植物、凋落物和土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量特征的差异和相互关系,以广西大青山杉木密度试验林为研究对象,测定了5种初植密度下杉木人工林针叶、草本、凋落物和土壤的C、N、P含量及其比值。结果表明:针叶的C、N、P含量最高,凋落物次之,土壤最低。C∶N、C∶P表现为凋落物针叶草本土壤,N∶P表现为凋落物草本针叶土壤。其中针叶的N∶P均值为16.69,凋落物C∶N显著高于N发生释放的C∶N的临界值(30)。杉木人工林针叶和草本N、C∶N呈显著负相关关系,针叶和土壤的C∶N、N∶P,草本和凋落物P含量、C∶P均呈显著正相关关系,体现了杉木生态系统内的C、N、P在针叶、草本、凋落物和土壤之间相互转化和循环。南亚热带杉木人工林植物生长受P限制,凋落物分解慢,土壤有机质的矿化作用慢,养分循环能力低,因此在人工林抚育管理中,应保护林下植被,适当施肥,提高土壤肥力,维持杉木林长期生产力。     

增温对亚热带杉木枝和叶凋落物理化性质的影响

在区域尺度上,凋落物的底物性质是决定其分解速率的关键因素。本研究以亚热带杉木人工林为对象,通过埋设电缆进行土壤增温,分析气候变暖对杉木枝、叶凋落物理化性质的影响。结果表明: 经过5年的土壤增温试验(4 ℃),杉木枝凋落物的氮(N)、磷(P)含量和可萃取物含量分别增加35.2%、40.8%、7.6%,叶凋落物分别增加41.2%、45.9%、5.9%;枝凋落物的碳(C)含量、纤维素含量和C/N分别降低5.1%、11.6%、28.8%,叶凋落物分别降低5.3%、11.3%、33.3%。土壤增温导致杉木叶凋落物的比叶面积提高29.8%,抗拉强度减小40.7%,但增温对杉木枝和叶凋落物木质素含量和pH值无显著影响。¹³C NMR和红外光谱分析显示,增温后杉木凋落物中氨基酸、多糖、多酚和脂肪族化合物含量变化显著,而且在不同器官凋落物之间有所差别,表现为多糖类物质只在叶凋落物中显著增加,枝凋落物中氨基酸的增加量大于叶凋落物。土壤增温显著改变了杉木枝、叶凋落物的理化性质, N、P养分含量的提高以及抗拉强度减小等特征可能加速初期凋落物的分解速率,而由于复杂大分子化合物的增多,后期凋落物的分解速率可能较慢。     

短期增温对贡嘎山峨眉冷杉幼苗生长及其CNP化学计量学特征的影响

2009年5月至10月,在中国科学院贡嘎山高山森林生态系统观测站附近,采用红外灯加热人工模拟气候变暖研究了增温对峨眉冷杉(Abies fabiri (Mast) Craib)幼苗生长和养分及其化学计量特征的影响。由于红外灯的增温作用,在幼苗的整个生长季节,增温样地地表下5 cm、10 cm、20 cm处土温平均高于对照样地5.04 ℃、4.81 ℃、4.35 ℃,而土壤含水量则分别降低了7.03%、6.10%、6.40%;地表20 cm处空气温度相比对照样地上升了1.12 ℃,而空气相对湿度则降低了6.30%。除茎重比外,增温处理降低了峨眉冷杉幼苗的根长、基径、株高、总生物量、根重比、叶重比、根冠比和比叶面积。经方差分析发现,增温处理后幼苗根、茎和叶的C平均含量与对照差异性均不显著(P>0.05),其中除茎的提高了2.76%外,根和叶分别降低了7.15%和2.29%;N平均含量除茎显著降低之外(P<0.05),根、叶分别提高了9.78%和5.70%;幼苗根、茎、叶的P平均含量均低于对照11.97%、10.69%和2.99%,并且根和茎与对照存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。增温处理后幼苗根、茎、叶各器官的C︰N、C︰P 、N︰P与对照均不存在显著性差异(P>0.05),其中C︰P均大于对照,而C︰N和N︰P与对照相比,均有不同程度的减小;C︰N、N︰P和C︰P的平均值(标准差)大小顺序依次为茎(92.594.92)>根(61.891.65)>叶(60.813.23)、叶(4.990.22)>根(4.440.58)>茎(3.640.10)和茎(336.358.70)>叶(302.854.49)>根(274.865.27)。实验结果表明：增温对幼苗生长和生物量积累具有明显的限制作用,对叶片生长的阻碍作用尤为突出;增温改变了幼苗根茎叶的CNP含量及其化学计量比格局;在养分供应上,增温和对照处理下幼苗生长均受N素限制。     

川西亚高山森林凋落物不同分解阶段碳氮磷化学计量特征及种间差异

为了了解亚高山森林凋落物在不同分解阶段的化学计量特征,采用空间代替时间的方法,以自然状态下凋落物的3个层次--新鲜凋落物层（L）、发酵层（F）、腐殖质层（H））模拟凋落物分解的不同阶段,对川西亚高山不同林分类型（岷江冷杉天然林、粗枝云杉人工林、白桦天然林、杜鹃矮曲林）凋落物的碳氮磷（C、N、P）及可溶性碳氮磷（DOC、SN、SP）含量进行研究。结果表明：林分类型及分解阶段将显著影响凋落物分解过程中的碳氮磷含量及其化学计量比。亚高山森林凋落物可溶性有机碳、水溶性磷含量均随着分解过程的不断进行而降低,分解初期快速淋溶,而分解中后期释放变缓。4种林分比较而言,水溶性碳氮磷含量表现为：白桦 > 杜鹃 > 冷杉 > 云杉,阔叶树种凋落物的可溶性碳氮磷普遍高于针叶树种,尤其在分解初期。针叶树种凋落物SN在分解过程中呈现释放模式,而阔叶树种SN呈现先富集后释放模式。凋落物C含量随着分解的不断进行而降低,冷杉、白桦及杜鹃N含量呈现先富集后释放的趋势,分解阶段对云杉与白桦各层P含量影响不显著,但冷杉却呈现先降低后升高的现象,而杜鹃则是在分解后期P含量显著降低。从总体来看,亚高山森林凋落物C/P和N/P均显著小于全球平均水平,凋落物C/N、C/P、N/P、DOC/C、SN/N、SP/P均随着分解的不断进行呈现降低的趋势。分解初期白桦和杜鹃DOC/C显著降低,而冷杉则在分解后期显著降低。冷杉N/P先升高后降低,杜鹃N/P随着分解的不断进行呈现升高趋势。这些研究结果为深入理解亚高山森林生态系统的凋落物分解进程和养分循环提供了依据。     

模拟降雨减少对马尾松人工林凋落物量及其化学性质的短期影响

为研究气候变化背景下降水格局变化对森林生长和碳固持的影响,2012年在我国南亚热带地区选择广泛分布的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林为研究对象,分别设置3块20 m×20 m的模拟降雨减少50%和对照样地,每个样地随机设置5个距地面40 cm的1 m×1 m的凋落物收集框,2016年1—12月每隔1月收集各样地林冠层凋落物,比较研究减水处理对凋落物组分产量和基本化学性质的短期影响。结果表明:马尾松人工林针叶凋落物量及其所占比例显著高于其他凋落物组分(P0.05),减雨处理对马尾松人工林凋落叶和总量无显著影响(P0.05)。与对照相比,减雨处理分别增加凋落针叶含碳量和凋落果含氮量27.4 g/kg和5.1 g/kg,以及凋落针叶的木质素含量、阔叶纤维素含量和皮半纤维素含量3.9%、5.2%和4.0%(P0.05),但显著降低凋落皮碳、纤维素含量和凋落果的碳氮比(P0.05)。凋落物N、P含量具有协同性,含碳量与木质素含量显著正相关(P0.05)。模拟降雨减少处理初期并未显著改变南亚热带马尾松人工林总凋落物量,但增加了凋落针叶的木质素含量和含碳量。本研究预示短期穿透雨减少可能降低南亚热带马尾松人工林凋落物的分解能力,由此降低马尾松人工林土壤中凋落物源性碳的输入量。     

Effects of Drought and Warming on Biomass, Nutrient Allocation, and Oxidative Stress in Abies fabri in Eastern Tibetan Plateau

Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib is an endemic and dominant species in typical subalpine dark coniferous forests distributed in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. To assess how A. fabri may respond and adapt to future climate changes, we investigated the effects of drought and warming on the growth, resource allocation in biomass, membrane stability, and oxidative stress of the seedlings over two growing seasons. Drought (11.4 % average reduction in soil moisture) was created by excluding natural precipitation with a plastic roof and warming was performed by an infrared heater above the plots. Drought increased root length, the root-to-shoot ratio, N concentration, and N/P ratio in all organs, and decreased seedling height and C/N ratio in all organs. Moreover, warming (2 °C) decreased seedling height, root length, total biomass, and N concentration in stems but increased the C/N ratio. Furthermore, the combination of drought and warming decreased seedling height and biomass in all organs, which further increased the N concentration and N/P ratio in all organs. A significant decrease in the membrane stability index and an increase in malondialdehyde, superoxide radical (O₂ ^?), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were exactly matched with a dramatic decrease of total biomass under the combination of drought and warming treatment. Together these results implied that drought alone and warming alone were unfavorable for the early growth of A. fabri, and drought plus warming will intensify the opposite effect of drought alone or warming alone. Moreover, N will be a limited nutrient under extant and future climate changes.     

Ecophysiological responses of Abies fabri seedlings to drought stress and nitrogen supply

Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib. (A. fabri) is an endemic and dominant species in typical subalpine dark coniferous forests distributed in mountainous regions of Western Sichuan, China. We investigated the ecophysiological responses of A. fabri seedlings to short‐term experimental drought, nitrogen supply and their interaction. Drought stress was created by excluding natural precipitation with automatically controlled plastic roof that covered the seedlings. Nitrogen fertilization was applied weekly by spraying over seedlings ammonium nitrate solution (50 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) during the growing season of 2009. The results showed that drought stress decreased leaf relative water content (RWC), whereas it caused marked increases in root mass ratio (RMR) and root/shoot mass ratio by 6.19 and 10.39%, respectively, as compared with the control. Drought stress increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, electrolyte leakage, proline content, soluble sugars content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, whereas nitrogen supply decreased MDA content, but enhanced activities of some antioxidant enzymes [especially peroxidase (POD)]. In the drought stressed plots, nitrogen supply increased RWC and decreased the content of MDA. The combination of drought stress and nitrogen supply also decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These results indicated that the negative effects of drought stress on A. fabri seedlings might be alleviated by nitrogen supply.     

川西亚高山典型森林生态系统截留水文效应

截留是水文循环的一个重要过程,水文功能是森林生态系统功能的重要方面,林冠和枯落物截留实现对大气降水的二次分配过程.为深入认识生态系统截留的水文效应,采用野外观测和人工降雨模拟试验相结合的方法,研究了2008年和2009年5-10月贡嘎山亚高山峨眉冷杉中龄林、峨眉冷杉成熟林和针阔混交林的冠层枯落物截留能力.结果表明,峨眉冷杉中龄林2008年林冠截留率为20.9％,针阔混交林2008年和2009年林冠截留率分别为23.0％和23.6％,林冠截留率的年际间变化不大,林冠截留主要受到降雨特征影响.3种林型枯落物饱和持水能力分别为5.1、5.1和5.7 mm,显著高于林冠的饱和持水能力,但由于冠层的截留蒸发速率较高,林冠截留蒸发仍是生态系统截留蒸发的主要组成部分.     

Changes in photosynthesis caused by adaptation of maize seedlings to short-term drought

Detached leaf is in the state of increasing water deficit; it is a good experimental model for looking into the hardening effect of adaptation of eight-day-old maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings to short-term drought (five days without watering). The light stage of photosynthesis and photosynthetic CO₂/H₂O exchange in detached leaves were studied. Specific surface density of leaf tissue (SSDL), the content of chlorophylls a and b, proline, MDA as well as photosynthetic parameters: quantum yield of photosystem II fluorescence, assimilation of CO₂, and transpiration at room temperature and light saturation (density of PAR quantum flux of 2000 μmol/(m² s)) at normal and half atmospheric CO₂ concentration were determined. The leaves of seedlings exposed to short-term drought differed from control material by a greater SSDL and higher content of proline. The hardening effect of the stress agent on the dark stage of photosynthesis was detected; it was expressed in the maintenance of the higher photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation against control material due to the elevation of stomatal conductance for CO₂ diffusing into the leaf. Judging from the lack of differences in the MDA content, short-term drought did not injure photosynthetic membranes. In detached leaves of experimental maize seedlings, photosynthesis was maintained on a higher level than in control material.     

Effects of Calcium and Calmodulin Antagonists on Chilling Stress-Induced Proline Accumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L.

Regulation of proline accumulation in plants under chilling stress remains unclear. In this paper, we treated Jatropha curcas seedlings under chilling stress with exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl₂), the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-channel blocker lanthanum chloride (LaCl₃), calmodulin antagonists, chlorpromazine (CPZ), and trifluoperazine (TFP) and investigated the effects of calcium and calmodulin (CaM) on proline accumulation and chilling tolerance. The results showed that CaCl₂ treatment significantly enhanced chilling stress-induced proline accumulation. CaCl₂ also induced an almost immediate and rapid increase of Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, the key enzymes in the glutamate pathway of proline biosynthesis, and up-regulated P5CS expression, but it decreased the activity of proline dehydrogenase (ProDH), a key enzyme of proline degradation, and inhibited ProDH expression. Treatment with LaCl₃, CPZ, and TFP exhibited the opposite effects to those by CaCl₂ treatment. Moreover, CaCl₂, LaCl₃, CPZ, and TFP had little effect on the activities of ornithine aminotransferase and arginase, the key enzymes in the ornithine pathway of proline biosynthesis. These results indicated that Ca²⁺-CaM might be involved in signal transduction events, leading to proline accumulation in J. curcas seedlings under chilling stress, and that Ca²⁺-induced proline accumulation is a combined result of the activation of the glutamate pathways of proline biosynthesis and the simultaneous inhibition of the proline degradation pathway. In addition, CaCl₂ treatment increased tissue vitality, decreased the content of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), and alleviated electrolyte leakage in J. curcas seedlings under chilling stress, indicating that exogenous Ca²⁺ can enhance chilling tolerance, and proline might be a key factor in this increased chilling tolerance.     

Early kit mortality and growth in farmed mink are affected by litter size rather than nest climate

We investigated the effects of nest box climate on early mink kit mortality and growth. We hypothesised that litters in warm nest boxes experience less hypothermia-induced mortality and higher growth rates during the 1st week of life. This study included data from 749, 1-year-old breeding dams with access to nesting materials. Kits were weighed on days 1 and 7, dead kits were collected daily from birth until day 7 after birth, and nest climate was measured continuously from days 1 to 6. We tested the influences of the following daily temperature (T) and humidity (H) parameters on the number of live-born kit deaths and kit growth: T_mean, T_min, T_max, T_var (fluctuation) and H_mean. The nest microclimate experienced by the kits was buffered against the ambient climate, with higher temperatures and reduced climate fluctuation. Most (77.0%) live-born kit deaths in the 1st week occurred on days 0 and 1. Seven of 15 climate parameters on days 1 to 3 had significant effects on live-born kit mortality. However, conflicting effects among days, marginal effects and late effects indicated that climate was not the primary cause of kit mortality. Five of 30 climate parameters had significant effects on kit growth. Few and conflicting effects indicated that the climate effect on growth was negligible. One exception was that large nest temperature fluctuations on day 1 were associated with reduced deaths of live-born kit (P<0.001) and increased kit growth (P=0.003). Litter size affected kit vitality; larger total litter size at birth was associated with greater risks of kit death (P<0.001) and reduced growth (P<0.001). The number of living kits in litters had the opposite effect, as kits in large liveborn litters had a reduced risk of death (P<0.001) and those with large mean litter size on days 1 to 7 had increased growth (P=0.026). Nest box temperature had little effect on early kit survival and growth, which could be due to dams’ additional maternal behaviour. Therefore, we cannot confirm that temperature is the primary reason for kit mortality, under the conditions of plenty straw access for maternal nest building. Instead, prenatal and/or parturient litter size is the primary factor influencing early kit vitality. The results indicate that the focus should be on litter size and dam welfare around the times of gestation and birth to increase early kit survival in farmed mink.     

Decomposition of Metrosideros polymorpha leaf litter along elevational gradients in Hawaii

We examined interactions between temperature, soil development, and decomposition on three elevational gradients, the upper and lower ends of each being situated on a common lava flow or ash deposit. We used the reciprocal transplant technique to estimate decomposition rates of Metrosideros polymorpha leaf litter during a three‐year period at warm and cool ends of each gradient. Litter quality was poorest early in soil development or where soils were most intensely leached and waterlogged. In situ litter decomposition was slowest on the young 1855 flow (k= 0.26 and 0.14 at low and high elevation, respectively). The more fertile Laupahoehoe gradient also supported more rapid in situ decay at the warmer low elevation site (k= 0.90) than at high elevation (k= 0.51). The gradient with the most advanced soil development showed no difference for in situ decay at low and high elevations (k= 0.88 and 0.99, respectively) probably due to low soil nutrient availability at low elevation, which counteracted the effect of warmer temperature. Comparisons of in situ, common litter, and common site experiments indicated that site factors influenced decomposition more than litter quality did. The effect of temperature, however, could be over‐ridden by soil fertility or other site factors. Field gradient studies of this sort yield variable estimates of apparent Q₁₀, even under the best conditions, due to interactions among temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, decomposer communities and litter quality. Such interactions may be as likely to occur with changing climate as they are along elevational gradients.     

Pathways of NADPH in rat liver. Evidence favoring a single cytosolic pool

A steady state model has been applied to the pathways of NADPH formation and utilization in rat liver, including the A or B stereospecificities of the dehydrogenases involved. The tritium distribution between fatty acids and cholesterol was calculated with alternate substrates e ither [3T]glucose (which produces initially [4B-T]NADPH in the pentose cycle) or l-[2T]malate (which produces initially [4A-T]NADPH in the malic enzyme reaction). The calculated results are similar to published experimental results (M. S. Kong and B. R. Landau, 1977, Arch. Biochem. Biophys.180, 69–74). These results are thus shown to be consistent with a single cytosolic pool of NADPH. However, the calculations neglect possible isotope discrimination effects, and also possible NADH contribution to cholesterol synthesis.     

Changes in photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses of Picea asperata seedlings to enhanced ultraviolet-B and to nitrogen supply

The paper mainly studied the effects of ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation, nitrogen, and their combination on photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses of Picea asperata seedlings. The experimental design included two levels of UV‐B treatments (ambient UV‐B, 11.02 KJ m⁻² day⁻¹; enhanced UV‐B, 14.33 KJ m⁻² day⁻¹) and two nitrogen levels (0; 20 g m⁻² a⁻¹ N) – to determine whether the adverse effects of UV‐B are eased by supplemental nitrogen. Enhanced UV‐B significantly inhibited plant growth, net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance to water vapor (Gs), transpiration rate and photosynthetic pigment, and increased intercellular CO₂ concentration, UV‐B absorbing compounds, proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase (POD), superoxide dimutase, and glutathione reductase). Enhanced UV‐B also reduced needle DW and increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content and the rate of superoxide radical (O₂⁻) production only under supplemental nitrogen. On the other hand, supplemental nitrogen increased plant growth, A, Gs, chlorophyll content and activity of antioxidant enzymes (POD, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase), and reduced MDA content, H₂O₂ content, and the rate of O₂⁻ production only under ambient UV‐B, whereas supplemental nitrogen reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes under enhanced UV‐B. Carotenoids content, proline content, and UV‐B absorbing compounds increased under supplemental nitrogen. Moreover, significant UV‐B × nitrogen interaction was found on plant height, basal diameter, A, chlorophyll a, activity of antioxidant enzymes, H₂O₂, MDA, and proline content. These results implied that supplemental nitrogen was favorable for photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses of P.asperata seedlings under ambient UV‐B. However, supplemental nitrogen made the plants more sensitive to enhanced UV‐B, although some antioxidant indexes increased.     

Morphological,physiological and biochemical responses to drought stress of Stone pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinea</Emphasis> L.) seedlings

In this study, the effect of irrigation intervals (drought stress) on growth, predawn xylem water potential (Ψ _w), the osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ ₁₀₀), the osmotic potential at the turgor loss point (Ψπ _TLP), osmotic adjustment and osmotic solutes (soluble sugars and proline) of Pinus pinea L. seedlings were examined. An experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions using four watering treatments (control, 7-, 14- and 21-day irrigation intervals) in the first growth season; from mid-July to early November. Results showed that irrigation interval had significant effect on growth characteristics, Ψ _w, water relation parameters, and osmotic solutes. The increasing irrigation interval significantly decreased the seedling height, root collar diameter, root, stem and needle dry weight, number of lateral branches, root percentage, root:shoot ratio and diameter:height ratio. Ψ _w and total soluble sugars decreased while proline content increased with the increase of drought stress. The Ψπ ₁₀₀ and Ψπ _TLP significantly decreased in drought-stressed seedlings compared to control (no stress) seedlings. The results suggest that the impact of drought stress increased with the increase of irrigation interval. Therefore, in the drought-stressed P. pinea seedlings were indicated osmotic adjustment by increasing the proline content and decreasing Ψπ ₁₀₀ and Ψπ _TLP during drought stress. Growth decreased under drought stress conditions in P. pinea seedlings.